It’s hard to imagine a better 2018 season for Neshoba Central pitcher Aspen Wesley.

Wesley ended the year with a remarkable 0.16 ERA, 316 strikeouts and 23 wins, as her arm helped lead the Lady Rockets to their sixth consecutive MHSAA Class 6A state title and the top spot on USA Today’s national softball rankings.

For her efforts, Wesley, who also tossed 11 no-hitters, received the distinction of being the 2018 Premier Preps of East Mississippi Softball Player of the Year.

“I’m just glad that you all chose me out of all the great athletes,” Wesley said of the honor.

Wesley has started for Neshoba Central since her seventh-grade year and has verbally committed to play for Mississippi State upon her graduation in 2019. 

Although she won’t arrive in Starkville for another year, she was able to take a peek into her future during this year’s state championship series against Pearl River Central, which was at MSU’s Nusz Park.

“Just being there felt so good,” Wesley said. “I felt comfortable — I was just myself… I just started getting comfortable with being on the mound, being on the field and everything. It was very special because we also played there for the state championship. All state championships are great to go to, but this one was more special to me because I was playing on my home field.”

Wesley appeared more than comfortable on her future home field in the series.

In Game 1, she pitched an 18-strikeout no-hitter, and in Game 2, she struck out 13 and allowed just two earned runs. 

Offensively, she added a two-run homer in Game 2 to go along with a game-high three RBIs.

Wesley’s offensive numbers improved this season, and she ended the year with a .421 batting average, 31 RBIs, 10 doubles and two home runs. The uptick in offense, Wesley said, is the byproduct of the extra hitting practice she put in school and at home.

“Last year, during the playoffs, I did really well, but during the whole season last year I didn’t do so hot,” Wesley said. “This year, I told myself I’m going to do better than I did last year, so I’m going to start off with a bang with my hits. It didn’t really start off with a bang — it took me like four games to get into a groove. And from then, I hit. I hit almost all the time. We have our little net outside — my dad and I set it up and I hit two or three buckets. I just try my best.”

While the accolades are appreciated, the one that means to most to Wesley is the state champion title she shares along with her teammates. Her success, she said, can be credited to the chemistry shared among the Lady Rockets team.

“This season was one of the best seasons that I had, and as a team, that we all had,” Wesley said. “We have been closer than ever before. All of us, we all get along. There’s just something about this year. It was so special. We’re just a big family.”